This is the end

Last day of planting at Meltham (or of this Season?). 

We planted 100 Oak, 45 Hazel, 45 Downy Birch and 25 Aspen.

We were: Cath, Geoff, Dave, Matthew, Tanya, Hap, Peter, Jess, Ben, Philip and myself.

https://youtu.be/VScSEXRwUqQ

O sole mio

Four intrepid "soles" ventured out on New Years day to remove old tree guards at Wholestone moor. Geoff, Dave, Steve G. and Tanya. 

Not sure about Tanya's choice of song, maybe they stopped for ice cream on the way home? Or is it a reference to the bottoms of Geoff's boots?

   

https://youtu.be/1X27O50Xq4U

Christmas time

Geoff, in a before-ish picture

Back to Meltham, and into the briar patch. A fraction of an large area of brambles was cleared, and planted with 60 Hazel, 25 Aspen, 75 Downy birch, and 5 Oak. It was dry, but a bit foggy.

Ann's Mince pies were consumed, but no alcohol.

We were: myself, Geoff, Dave, John, Jon and Tess, Jess, Hap, Peter, Michael, Philip, Tanya, Cath, Stephen, Steve, Matthew, Murray, plus a friend of Tess and her family including Matt.

Cath and Matt, in an after-ish photo

https://youtu.be/G0D_pdOCe9o

Chicken in the corn

                           
Back to Meltham, in considerably better weather. We still got very muddy though.

We were: myself, Dave, Philip, Tanya, Jess, Lee, Steve, Stephen, Harry, Peter, Peter 2, Hap, Cath, Ben, and John.

We planted 125 Oak, 90 Downy Birch, 25 Aspen and 30 Hazel.

https://youtu.be/E8H-67ILaqc

Filthy and fried

First day of planting of the season, and the weather could not have been much worse. Wind and cold rain. We all ended up pretty mucky, though the rain did wash some of the mud off toward the end. Silver linings eh?

We were: myself, John H., Jon and Tess, Tanya, Shelley, Julia, Hap, Stephen, Ben, Murray, Matthew, Lee, Harry, Philip, Geoff, Dave, Peter, and Michael.

We planted 30 hazel, 150 sessile oak, 90 downy birch and 25 aspen.

Drive by truckers

A cautionary song

So after a challenging week dealing with suppliers and haulage companies we have had our trees and materials delivered. Not the hedging. But the trees.

5 deliveries on 5 different days from 4 different suppliers, and 4 different haulage companies. I spent quite a lot of time at the nursery making phone calls to various suppliers, transport hubs, and delivery drivers.

Thanks to all the volunteers that gave up their time to help: myself, Alastair, Stephen, Richard, Tanya, Sophie, Dave, Philip, Sarah, Geoff, Adrian, Hap, Bob, plus Simon, Mick, Steve and couple of others I don't know the names of from River Holme Connections.

Somehow, this pop/folk song about the plight of a Victorian mother seems appropriate.

https://youtu.be/9fTUR4suld8

Willin'

With the aid of willin' helpers and a willin' delivery driver we received a huge amount of tree planting materials today. Only 5 more deliveries to go?

CVTS folk were myself, Dave, Hap, Tanya, Adrian and Bob.

Plus Simon and 4 other folk from River Holme Connections.

Country rock classic about truck drivin'

https://youtu.be/zcrEWRLk3CE

Pleasant and delightful

 

Hap, Baljit and Dave

Just four stalwarts this week collecting more stakes and tubes (oh, and Philip who carried on clearing a footpath at the Western end of the site). The four were Geoff, Hap, Baljit, and Dave.

Weather was chilly but sunny and all round a delightful morning.

https://youtu.be/e0GdTwzPOJg

In these shoes?

Matthew rocking his wellies and shorts trademark look.

Back to Wholestone for more guard removal. It didn't rain!

We were: myself, Matthew, Adrian, Shelley, Geoff, Cath, Tanya, Hap, Jess, Lee, Philip and Dave.

https://youtu.be/oW0GK2bVqI0

What did your last servant die of?

 

Lots of tubes, and Cath, Geoff, Julia and me.

Up at Wholestone Moor working hard retrieving old plastic tree guards for re-use and disposal. We were; myself, Julia, Richard, Dave, Ben, Cath, Tanya, Hap, and Geoff.

Bit wet and windy, but it always is up there. 

https://youtu.be/tOth_jv7EfA

Losing my edge

Who's that funny little fella? Me, Steve, Geoff and Hap's shoulder

Up to Wholestone Moor for more plastic removal/retrieval. We were: myself, Geoff, Hap, Peter, Cath, Dave, Michael and Steve.

I think both Steve and I lost knives this morning, nothing valuable. but annoying. So the song title is particularly aposite, as well as being a belter. 

And apparently this blog has been lost to google, so am investigating that.

https://youtu.be/6xG4oFny2Pk

What's up

Matthew and Murray, and Geoff

Whats up? We were up. Climbing a near vertical slope to get to the top of Pasture Wood, Marsden. And then removing old plastic tree guards. A couple of bags of re-usable ones, some wooden stakes, and some bags of trash for the tip.

We were: myself, Dave, Baljit, Hap, Richard, Ben, Murray, Matthew, Tanya, Kayleigh, and Geoff.

https://youtu.be/6NXnxTNIWkc

Rollin' stone

 

Paul carries that weight, and Tanya and Geoff.

Up at Scout Top, Marsden for a spot of guard removal.

We were: myself, Geoff, Murray, Dave, Paul, Tanya, Shelley, Kayleigh and Dave.

On the way down there was a moment of mild peril, when a moderately sized stone got knocked and rolled down the hill towards Murray, who fended it off with a bag of guards.

https://youtu.be/4T2hygHu8CI

Better things

 

This morning Geoff and crew were at Scammonden SC3 removing more guards. They were; Geoff, Ben, Dave, Steve G., Jess, Lee, and Joanna and small dog.

Geoff has provided nice before and after photos for today's session.

Worse

Better

https://youtu.be/qs6G9tisVdU

Tear the whole thing down

Richard and Philip strategise the destruction.

This morning a handful of us were at a previous planting site, Parkwood, to cut back willow that were overwhelming some blackthorn and shading out ground that could be used for allotment plots. We were: Philip and Stephen on chainsaws, myself, Dave, Kayleigh, and owner Richard. Risk assessment done and signed, PPE worn.

Meanwhile Geoff and Michael were at Scammonden collecting more old tree guards, and a mystery skull (small deer?)

https://youtu.be/ViKyUXmVdt8

What can a song do to you?

Last full team go at Netherwood. We were: myself, Sophie, Steve, Geoff, Jess, Lee, Murray, Dave, Paul, Tanya, Peter and Philip.

A large number of bags were filled, and a quick survey of the site was done to see whether there was a need for thinning.

More discussion of the CVTS song, and singing, at breaktime.

https://youtu.be/OWjh1_MsfHo

Cats van bags

Once more up at Netherwood. We were: myself, Geoff, Matthew, Paul, Peter, Tanya, Kayleigh, Dave, Shell, Stephen, and Jess. Hacking our way through the brambles and removing old plastic tree guards.

https://youtu.be/ZeTa8BSiih0